Not a Deep Fried Mars Bar in Sight

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to be the guests of Andy and Rebecca at Fraoch Lodge in Boat of Garten, then you’ll know they’re right to be proud of the food they serve. Their menus owe much to their garden – which has over the past 5 years produced a large part of their herbs, salad and winter vegetables. Additional ingredients are sourced through local and national suppliers – Scotland has much to offer despite its reputation for such foods as the deep fried mars bar. The delicious meals served at Fraoch Lodge offer prime examples of Scottish fusion cooking at its best, making use of all that nature provides, from seaweed to mushrooms.

Incorporating as much Scottish produce in their menus as possible, Andy and Rebecca take pride in showcasing Scotland’s finest produce, including: salmon, beef, lamb, whisky, soft fruit, mushrooms, shellfish, and of course regional specialities such as arbroath smokies and haggis.

Here, Rebecca has shared one of her favourite recipes, and it’s always a hit with guests – who doesn’t love chocolate?!

Venison with Chocolate

This recipe is perfect for a snapshot of a taste of Scotland. All the ingredients can be found produced in Scotland, Marjoram can almost be a weed in some gardens and the deer roaming the hills (as in some other parts of the UK) are turning into a pest which needs active management as they now have no natural preditor.

The combination of chocolate with game is not unusual. The intention is to add a deep, rich colour and flavour. Use the most bitter chocolate you can find. The majoram enhances the sweetness of the chocolate. We usually serve with rice or mashed potato but almost any carbohydrate will do including couscous or any long pasta.

Ingredients:

3 tbs olive oil

1 onion, peeled and chopped

1 large garlic clove, peeled and chopped

1 leek, cleaned and chopped

1lb/500g casserole venison

1/4 pint stock

2 – 3 tbs red wine

1 oz bitter chocolate

2 tbs majoram

salt, pepper

1/2 – 1 tbs balsamic vinegar

Method:

Preheat oven to 160oC/325oF. Heat half the oil in a heavy ovenproof dish. Gently fry the onion, garlic and leek for about 10 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon

Heat the remining oil, then brown the venison cubes all over for a few minutes. Add stock, wine, chocolate & marjoram. Bring to the boil, then season with salt and pepper. Cover tightly with a lid, then place in oven for about 1 1/2 hours. Stir every 30 minutes.

Taste and add enough vinegar to balance the sweetness of the sauce.

Serve hot.

This dish freezes well and can alternatively be cooked on the hob.

I also often short cut and do not remove the onion etc while browning the meat.

TAGS

RELATED ARTICLES

The Cairngorms National Park is the largest national park in the UK and is one of the country's most special and cared for landscapes with a wide variety of traditional and unique villages and communities. This site is your gateway to the Aviemore and Cairngorms, Angus Glens, Atholl and Glenshee, Tomintoul and Glenlivet and the Royal Deeside and Donside areas.